The following letter appears in the London Messenger:
DEAR SIR,—I must avail myself of this opportunity to tell you what I know you will rejoice to hear. In answer to prayer, united and persevering prayer, commencing about eight or nine months ago, the Lord has within the last few days been graciously pouring out his Spirit on an institution in this neighbourhood, the Girl's Reformatory, at Mount Vernon Green. The matron, a truly godly woman, is an intimate friend of ours, and has been most earnestly yearning over the fifty-five precious immortal souls committed to her charge, and at length, her prayers and the prayers of others who have agreed and united with her in asking, yea, earnestly pleading —wrestling for the blessing—have been answered, marvellously answered. Blessed be God for it. A week ago the matron was much cast down and depressed, almost ready to give up if she could have done so; Satan was raging horribly because his time was short, there had been quite an outbreak amongst some of the girls, and she was under the painful necessity of calling in the police; three were taken into custody, and on the following day she had to appear against them; they were all sent to prison; one of the three had threatened her life. She came to tell us and to ask us to help to bear her burden, and sadly did she weep over these poor wretched creatures, who were so hardened by sin, and led captive by Satan at his will. But now, in a few days, oh, what a marvellous change has come over the institution. The Lord Himself has appeared for the rescue. He has east out the "strong man armed," and taken possession. There has been no human instrumentality beyond the regular instructions and constant exhortations of the matron. On Friday she had a letter from one of the girls, expressing sorrow for her sin and anxiety about her soul, and asking her to meet her and another one for prayer, which she did (this was the second letter, the first she took little or no notice of, fearing hypocrisy). To her surprise and joy, she found instead of two that eight girls were waiting for her at the appointed hour. They sang-
"There is a fountain filled with blood."
She read and prayed with them, then one girl began to pour out her soul in such earnest, pleading, supplicating prayer, and then when she had done another began; "with strong crying and tears " they called upon the name of the Lord, they sobbed, they wept, they cried to Jesus to come and save them, to come then—just then; they wanted salvation, salvation for themselves and their companions, and for those in prison. Others were standing outside the door, some of them were scoffing, but others were weeping, and many went inside until at last twenty-one were assembled in the room weeping and sobbing. The two girls with whom this movement first commenced were amongst the worst in the institution. The tongues that had been wont to curse and blaspheme have now begun to pray. Oh, what bath God wrought! He bath granted my desire, bringing this blessed glorious work (of which I have long been hearing) within my own personal knowledge and observation, for tomorrow I hope to visit the institution. The work is still going on and will go on, for we feel assured it is of God. Glory be to his holy name. What encouragement does this afford to continue in prayer, and if He tarries, wait for Him, "in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Yours respectfully.—M. G.
From the 'Revival Newspaper', Volume III, page 12/12.